Review: In Too Deep by Amanda Grace

Sam is in love with her best friend Nick, but she can't seem to tell him. So she decides to flirt with golden-boy Carter Wellesley, hoping Nick will see it and finally realize his true feelings for her.

On Monday, everyone at school is saying that Carter raped Sam. He didn't, but Sam can't find the words to tell the truth. Worst of all, she's afraid she'll lose Nick if he finds out what really happened.

As graduation approaches, Sam discovers that living the lie isn't as easy as her new friends make it sound--and telling the truth might be even worse.

My Review:

I really enjoyed reading In Too Deep.  It was my first read by Amanda Grace or Mandy Hubbard.  The book handles relationships, lies, and their consequences.  


POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD


Sam is a good main character, even though she makes many mistakes during the course of the book.  She is in love with her best friend and plans on getting him to notice her by flirting with Carter.  Her plan goes horribly wrong when she gets drunk and goes to Carter's bedroom.  He rejects her and basically calls her ugly.  She leaves crying, and a girl sees her, jumps to conclusions, and spreads the gossip.  When she gets to school the next Monday, people are asking her if it's true.  She nods yes, though she's not sure what they're talking about.  Later that day, she hears what the rumor is.  At this point, she should have stopped the rumor, but she doesn't.  Eventually, it spirals out of her control.


I really liked Nick, and I thought him and Sam made a cute couple.  Unfortunately, Sam kept putting off telling him the truth.  She told a few girls from school before him, and they encourage her to keep it a secret.  They say that school will end, Carter will leave for college, and the rumor will be forgotten.  She listens to them, but eventually she tells the truth at the senior party.  Nick gets mad that she didn't tell him, and he won't speak to her for the rest of the book.  At the end of the book, it seems like there is no hope of their relationship being fixed.


If you like heavier YA contemporary, read this book.


Katie